Can-capping machine.



V. CAMPBELL.

GAN GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13, 1907.

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Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

V. CAMPBELL. cAN' OAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT, 13, 1907.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VERNON CAMPBELL, OF ALTADENA, CALIFORNIA.

CAN-GAPPIN G MACHINE.

Application filed September 13, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VERNON CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Altadena, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Can-Capping Machine, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to a can capping machine.

In the present invention the cans are assembled on the bench and neednot be in any particular position nor be assorted as to size, height,etc., as must be done when using automatic machines having a gang ofcapping steels, for the capping steel can be readily applied to the capof each can and brought into eXact register for the perfect solderingthereof even though the cans are of different heights and although theymay be tipped slightly one way or another. As the device utilizes asingle capping steel it is possible to keep it at the proper heat and inworking condition and thereby avoid the loss of time and material inrecapping defective cans caused by steels that are out of order or arenot properly heated, as frequently happens where a plurality of steelsare used, as in automatic machines. Even where automatic cappers areemployed, this machine is of great value in following up the automaticmachine to patch caps which have been imperfectly soldered by theautomatic machine, to fill leaks, etc. Inasmuch as the cans do not haveto be absolutely level in order to be perfectly capped with this machinespecia iron trays are not required.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention, and referringthereto, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention, showing thecapping steel and adjacent parts in vertical cross section with thecapping steel applied to the cap of a can. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation ofthe device. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the capping steel. Fig. 4 isa cross section on line sc -05 Fig. 1.

1 designates a table plate provided with a socket 2 in which issupported a vertical standard 3. The table plate 1 is also formed with aboX 4 in which a rack 5 is mounted to slide vertically. A pinion 6meshes with the rack 5 and is mounted on a shaft 7 journaled in the boX4, shaft 7 having a hand wheel 8 for turning the same to adjust thevertical elevation of the rack 5. Swiveled on the upper end of the rack5 is a yoke 9 having a web 10 perforated at 11 to permit the passageSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

Serial No. 392,812.

of a gas pipe 12, the edges of the perforation 11 being chamfered onboth sides, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, to permit the gaspipe 12 to freely rock in all directions in the web 10. 13 is a flexiblesupply tube for admitting air and gas mixture to the gas pipe 12.li-evolubly mounted in the arms of the yoke 9 is a loop 14 havingtrunnions 15 which are mounted in the arms of the yoke 9. Journaled on ashaft 16, which extends transversely through the loop 14, are groovedpulleys 17 and 18, the pulley 17 being loose on shaft 16 and pulley 18being tight thereon. The shaft 16 is hollow and the bore thereof issquare, as shown.

' Slidably mounted on the standard 3 is a bracket 19 adjustably securedto the standard by a set screw 20, and journaled on the bracket 19 arepulleys 21 and 22. The belt 23 passes around one of the pulleys 17 or 18and over both pulleys 21 and 22 and has a de ending loop 24 in whichhangs a tightener pulley 25 provided with a weight 26 by means of whichthe belt 23 is held tight, but is permitted the necessary extension sothat it may be flipped by the hand from either pulley 17 or 18 or viceversa to start or stop revolution of shaft 16. Slidable in the hollowshaft 16 is a square spindle 27 which is connected by a universal joint28 with a shaft 29 mounted in a bracket 30, the end of shaft 29 carryinga bevel gear 31. By reason of the yoke 9 being swiveled on the rack 5,and by reason of the loop 14 being pivoted to the yoke 9, the spindle 27is pen mitted a universal movement with respect to the rack 5, and byreason of the sliding engagement of spindle 27 with shaft 16 the spindlemay be moved in and out to carry the bracket 30 in all directions.

The bracket 30 carries the capping devices proper, being provided at itslower end with a hollow box 32 in which is arranged a vertical sleeve33, the lower end of the sleeve being threaded. Screwed to the lower endof sleeve 33 is a disk 34 having several perforations 35. The disk 34constitutes a firelate and depending from disk 34 is a bowl shapedfire-box 36 which is supported by means of set screws 37 which passtherethrough into a peripheral groove in the edge of the fire-plate 34.The lower end of the fire-box 36 is contracted and is provided with aseries of air holes 38 which facilitate combustion. Extending throughthe sleeve 33 is a hollow shaft 39, the upper end of which has a bevelgear 40 which meshes with the bevel gear 31. Screwed to the lower end ofthe shaft 39 is a capping steel 41, shown in detail in Fig. 3, andhaving a lower flange 42 which is provided with a pair of notches 43.The capping steel is also provided with a central bore 44 through whicha cap holding rod 45 passes loosely, the upper end of the rod 45 havinga handle 46. The capping steel 41 projects slightly below the lower endof the fire-box 86 but hes largely within the fire-box so that it is jkept heated by the fire within the fire-box.

other suitable place and carries the weight of the capping steel andassociated appliances.

50 designates a can having a cap 51. The cap 51 is to be soldered to thegrooved rim 52 of the top of the can 50, and the flange 42 of thecapping steel is adapted to lit in this groove. The capping steel beingheated by the fire within the fire-box 36 is brought into position bymeans of the handle 47 against the cap to be soldered and the cap to besoldered is held securely seated by pressing down the rod 45 against thecap 51. The capping steel 41 is revolved through the medium of the shaft39, gears 31 and 40, shaft 29, spindle 27 and pulleys 18 and 22, and byapplying solder at the rim of the capping steel, adjacent the groove 52of the cap 51, the head of the capping steel melts the solder, andalmost instantaneously upon touching the solder to the steel therevolving steel carries a string of melted solder around the groove 52which instantly solders the cap to the can. The cans may be arranged inrows, or promiscuously, on top of the bench and as one can is capped thehandle 47 is manipulated to apply the capping steel to the next can andso on. The flexible connections between the capping device proper andstandards permit of the universal adjustment of the cap ing steel, sothat the capping steel may also e brought into perfect register and intoperfect operative union with the cap to be soldered whether the canstands perfectly level or not, and thus the operation of capping mayproceed with great despatch.

I have found in practice that with this device the average person cancap fifteen hundred cans per hour and expert operators can cap twothousand cans an hour.

What I claim is 1. In a can capping machine, a capping steel, heatingmeans therefor, means for retating the'capping steel, and means forsupporting the steel to permit of its being adusted vertically,horizontally, and angularly to the vertical.

2. In a can capping machine, a rotating capping steel, yielding meansfor supporting and flexible means for actuating the same allowing ituniversal adjustment vertically, horizontally, and angularly to thevertical, whereby perfect operative union of the capping steel with acan cap is secured.

3. In a can capping machine, a rotating capping steel, yielding meansfor supporting and flexible means for actuating the same allowing ituniversal adjustment vertically, horizontally, and angular-1y to thevertical, whereby perfect operative union of the capping steel with acan cap is secured, and manually operated means extending through thecapping steel for holding the cap of the can in position on the can.

4. In a can capping machine, a rotating capping steel, yielding meansfor supporting and flexible means for actuatingthe same allowing ituniversal adjustment and bodily adjustment, whereby perfect operativeunion of the capping steel with a can cap is secured, manually operatedmeans extending through the capping steel for holding the cap of the canin position on the can, and manually operated means for manipulating thecapping steel independently of the means for holding the steel.

5. In a can capping machine, a pivoted loop, a shaft journaled therein,a pulley on the shaft, a spindle slidable longitudinally of the shaftand rotating therewith, a swiveled yoke supporting said loop, verticallyadjustable means supporting the yoke, a bracket, a fire-box connected tothe bracket, a capping steel mounted to rotate in the lire-box andprojecting therefrom, and gearing supported by the bracket intermediatethe capping steel and spindle for driving the capping steel from thespindle.

6. In a can capping machine, a pivoted loop, a shaft journaled therein,a pulley on the shaft, a spindle slidable longitudinally of the shaftand rotating therewith, a swiveled yoke supporting said loop, verticallyadj ustable means supporting the yoke, a'bracket, a fire-box connectedto the bracket, a capping steel mounted to rotate in the fire-box andprojecting therefrom, gearing supported by the bracket intermediate thecapping steel and spindle for driving the capping steel from thespindle, a gas pipe for conducting fuel to the fire-box, one end of saidgas pipe having universal connection with said yoke.

7. In a can capping machine, a pivoted and spindle for driving thecapping steel from the spindle, a gas pipe for conducting fuel to thefire-box, one end of said gas pipe having universal connection with saidyoke, and a spring suspending said fire-box, capping steel and gearing.

8. In a can capping machine, a pivoted loop, a shaft journaled therein,a pulley on the shaft, a spindle slidable longitudinally of the shaftand rotating therewith, a swiveled yoke supporting said loop, verticallyadjustable means supporting the yoke, a bracket, a fire-box connected tothe bracket, a capping steel mounted to rotate in the fire-box andprojecting therefrom, gearing supported by the bracket intermediate thecapping steel and spindle for driving the capping steel from thespindle, a standard adjacent said yoke, a bracket adjustable on thestandard, tight and loose pulleys ournaled in the bracket, a beltextending over the latter pulleys and around one of the first named andhaving a depending loop, and a weighted tightening pulley resting insaid loop.

9. 1n a can capping machine, a bracket, a fire-box supported thereby, asleeve in said bracket, a hollow shaft journaled in the sleeve, acapping steel fastened to the lower end of said hollow shaft, a bevelgear on the upper end of the hollow shaft, a horizontal shaft in saidbracket having a bevel gear meshing with the first named bevel gear, aspindle having a universal connection with said horizontal shaft, a fuelpipe supported on means allowing it universal movement for conductingfuel to the fire-box, and a cap holding rod extending loosely throughthe first named bevel gear and hollow shaft, and through the cappingsteel.

10. In a can capping machine, a bracket, a fire-box supported thereby, asleeve in said bracket, a hollow shaft j ournaled in the sleeve, acapping steel fastened to the lower end of said hollow shaft, a bevelgear on the upper end of the hollow shaft, a horizontal shaft in saidbracket having a bevel gear meshing with the first named bevel gear, aspindle having a universal connection with said horizontal shaft, a fuelpipe supported on means allowing it universal movement for conductingfuel to the fire-box, a cap holding rod extending loosely through thefirst named bevel gear and hollow shaft, and through the capping steel,a handle on the upper end of the cap holding rod, a handle projectinglaterally from the bracket, and yielding means for carrying the weightof the capping steel, fire-box and associated devices.

11. In a can capping machine, a table plate, a rack vertically slidabletherein, a pinion meshing with the rack and j ournaled in the tableplate, a hand wheel for operating said pinion, a yoke swiveled on theupper end of said rack, a loop with trunnions pivoted in the yoke, ahollow shaft j ournaled in the loop, tight and loose pulleys on theshaft, a spindle slidable through the hollow shaft, a standard parallelwith the rack, a bracket vertically adjustable on the standard, tightand loose pulleys mounted on said bracket, a belt extending over thelatter pulleys and having a depending loop, a weighted tightener pulleyhanging in the belt loop, the yoke having a perforated web, a gas pipeloosely passing through the web, a fire-box, a perforated fire-plate atthe upper end of the fire-box, a bracket having a box at its lower endto which said fire-plate is attached, said gaspipe extending to the box,a shaft journaled in said bracket and having a universal connection withsaid spindle, a sleeve extending vertically through said box and screwedto the fire-plate, a hollow shaft journaled in the sleeve, a cappingsteel screwed to the hollow shaft, bevel gears on the two respectivelatter shafts meshing together, a cap holding rod extending looselythrough the vertical hollow shaft, a handle on the end of said rod, ahandle projecting from said box, and a coil spring connected with thelatter handle for supporting the weight of the capping steel, fire-boxand associated devices.

-In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles,California, this 30th day of July, 1907.

VERNON CAMPBELL.

In presence of GEORGE T. HAoKLEY, FRANK L. A. GRAHAM.

